Lubricating means for metering devices.



i. WIECHMANN. LUBHICATING MEANS FOR METERING DEVICES.

APPLICATION FILED ]AN.22.1911

Patented Sept. 10, 1918.

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JOHANN WIECHMANN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

LUBRICATING MEANS Fon METERING DEVICES. l

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 10, 1918.

Application led January 22, 1917. Serial No. 143,849.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHANN -WincHMANm a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Detroit, in the county of Vayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new 'and useful Improvements in Lubricating Means for Metering Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

In gas meters and like devices wherein a collapsible wall of leather or the like is always under expansion or contraction, the fabric is liable to become dry or brittle and to crack, thereby requiring frequent renewal. Various devices for lubricating this flexible wall in apparatus of this kind have been used but the unequal distribution of the lubricant or the contact thereof with the gas or liquid passing through the bellows, militates against successful lubrication. Furthermore renewal of the lubricant in devices of this character requires the taking down and reassembling of the meter or like instrument as a whole.

This invention relates to means for lubricating the diaphragms of gas meters or like devices and to an arrangement thereof that insures a constant supply equally to all parts of the diaphragm fabric.

Another feature of the invention is an arrangement which Jpo'revents contact between the body of the lu ricant and the gas. A further advantage is the fact that the lubricant may be renewed without any dismantling of the device.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1-is a view in section through a meter provided with a lubricating device that embodies features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the bellowsI bag and lubricating annulus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a slight modification of the device;

Fig. 4 is a view in detail showing an arrangement for a double diaphragm; and

Fig. 5 is a view in detail showing a reserve reservoir in connection with the device.

Referring to the drawings a usual external casing 1 of a type and construction dependent upon they style of meterv used, contains the usual diaphragm 2 which in part at least, has a bellows bag of flexible material, the mouth ofv which is drawn over a rim 3 of the casing. A hollow annulus 4C encircles the mouth of the bag, its separated end portions being connected by a binding bolt 6 which holds the bag firmly in position. There is a channel 7 through the wall of the annulus 4 which contacts with the bag mouth, or a continuous slot 8 or a series of perforations if preferred. A ller pipe 9 extending without the casing is used to introduce lubricant into the annulus.v

As indicated in Fig. 3, the bellows bag 10 may be clamped between opposing sections 11 and 12 of the casing, in which instance an oil chamber 13, one wall of which is the bag neck, is formed in one 0f the sections and is provided with a filler'pipe 14 whereby a supply of lubricant may be introduced and maintained around the entire mouth of the bag. If the meter is provided with a `double bellows or bag, the mouths 15 of which are secured around the casing frame 16 as indicated in Fig. 4, the lubricant con-y tainer may be formed by the obliquely disposed annular walls 17 and 1S, with outlet apertures 19 permitting Contact of the lubricant with the bag and a filler opening 20 common to the inner annular chambers that are thus formed.

If the meter is in a place hard of access, and under certain other conditions of service that militate against regular inspection, it is desirable to have an auxiliary lubricant container 21, as shown in Fig. 5, that provides an excess of lubricant discharging through the filler pipe 22 into the annular Y space 23 which thereby keeps a constant sup- 95,3 ply for the bellows wall 24.-.

Because of this construction and arrangement, lubricant is evenly distributed by capillary action and seepage uniformly around the bellows bag opening or mouth 100 so that the body of the wall is kept evenly pliable. Furthermore the lubricant body does not come in contact with the gases or other fluid passing through a meter and consequently does not become vitiated.

Furthermore the ydisadvantage of the common form of lubrication wherein the lubricant is held in a reservoir in the lower part of the casing into which the bag dips, is avoided, first, because the lubricant is out 110 of contact with the gas, and second,'be'cause i the upper portion of the bag is as thoroughly oiled as the other portions. I

Obviously, changesin Athe details of con-A struction may be madewithout departing said vmarginal portion thereof ithroughout` its ventire extent. A i

2.1In a'metermg device,.a diaphragm of flexible fabric secured alonga circumferential marginthereof, and an annular lubricant retainer'v adapted l to maintain a'y supply of lubricant in constant .contactyvith the 1^attached portion throughout the .entire .circumference-thereof. i

` 3.5In' a *metering device a `flexible diaphragm, a container'adapted to maintain a supply of lubricantv Within the device and out 4of 'Contact withv any Huid passing through the .meter, .and to maintain the margin of the diaphragm in constant con tact throughout its entire circumferential extent With the contents of the container.`

4l. In afgasmetering device, a flexible diaphragm of substantially circular contour, the peripheral margin ofwhich.isti-nedl in the ymeter7 Vand yan annular lubricant containing chamber, one walliof-Whieh is faced by fthe retained =inarginal .poition whereby theicon't'ents fof-the container is uniformly distributed and disseminated to impregnate uniformlyl ythe entire fabric I'of the dia'- phragm.

`In= testimony vWl'ereof .I aiiiX 'myv signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

1 JOHANN IVIEGH'MANN llitnesses: Y Y

ANNA-,Mg Donn5 GL R. :STroKNnn- Copesof thisfpatent may bevo'bta'irned for vecents each, byadrssing the fGmn'i-issonraf Patents,-

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